Curtis Sliwa slams the dual 'architects' of Democrat failure in NYC—Mamdani and Cuomo

At Thursday night’s New York City mayoral debate, Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa defended his record and took aim at Democratic leaders over crime and public safety. Asked how he was qualified to manage the city without formal government experience, Sliwa said his leadership was proven through action, not titles.

“I created the Guardian Angels to provide public safety in areas where government was incapable of doing so,” he said. “I didn’t do it to get a title or a paycheck.”

Sliwa said he would rely on experienced professionals if elected: “I don’t declare myself to be all knowing,” he said. “I will hire the very brightest and best in their field—people who have dedicated their lives to improving New York.”

He went on to accuse Democratic figures of implementing failed criminal justice policies. “Thank God I’m not a professional politician,” Sliwa said. “We have the architect and the apprentice of no cash bail, which has been a disaster. We have the architect and the apprentice of raise the age. My own son was almost killed because of that, the gang attack. We have the architect and the apprentice of closing Rikers Island, which would just release criminals into the street.”

Sliwa referenced the October 4 assault on former New York Gov. David Paterson and his stepson—Sliwa’s son—on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Two boys, aged 12 and 13, were later charged with gang assault.

According to police, the pair turned themselves in after the incident, which began when Paterson told a group climbing a fire escape to get down. The former governor said he was “punched in the face a couple times” before the group fled.